Nevada City Skatepark Project Faces Setbacks, Council Seeks New Direction

City staff report reveals lack of land, funding, and contracts for promised skatepark, prompting council to pause and reevaluate options.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After a reality check in the form of an exhaustive staff report, the Nevada City Council faced the lack of land, cash, and contracts for the promised skatepark during a recent meeting. The council has now directed staff to investigate available sites and bring back a transparent process to get the project back on track.

Why it matters

The skatepark project has been a long-standing goal for the Nevada City community, particularly for the local youth. The council's decision to pause and reevaluate the process aims to ensure the project is executed properly and sustainably, avoiding any undue challenges that could jeopardize the project in the long run.

The details

The staff report presented to the council highlighted several key issues, including the lack of finalized land acquisition, missing environmental review, and insufficient funding allocated for the project. The council members then shared their perspectives, with some emphasizing the need to pause and find the best possible location, while others expressed a desire to keep the grant funding in the community even if the skatepark project is not feasible within the given timeline.

  • In November 2023, the city council unanimously approved the submission of a grant modification to include the Nevada City Skatepark project.
  • In August 2024, the city council unanimously accepted a Letter of Intent for the donation of land from the Nevada City Tech Center (Bodhi Hive Collective) for the skatepark.
  • In August 2025, the city council unanimously awarded the contract to Spohn Ranch and authorized the City Manager to execute any related documents.
  • On October 29, 2025, a design kick-off meeting was held by Spohn Ranch.
  • On February 25, 2026, the city council reset the project and directed staff to investigate available sites.

The players

Joan Phillipe

Interim City Manager of Nevada City.

Doug Fleming

A Nevada City councilmember who brought the idea of locating the skatepark on the Bodhi Hive property to the council.

Gary Petersen

A Nevada City councilmember and an avowed public works person.

Daniela Fernández

A Nevada City councilmember who pointed out that the project didn't follow the normal process.

Lou Cecci

A Nevada City councilmember who expressed a desire for a skatepark but was open to considering alternative locations.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We have not finalized acquisition of that property [Bodhi Hive location]. At the same time we, we have been moving forward with a contract for build and design, bid and build. We've put a halt on that temporarily at least until we have direction from you… There are various levels of environmental review depending upon the project that would need to be determined. We have not allocated funds for that portion of the project… Some of those monies being allocated for this project, which is $750,000 that does not include various other components of the project, including clearing of the land, environmental review, long term maintenance costs, potential replacement costs down the road and pro 15 to 20 years…I think my last comment before questions from you is that I want to emphasize that this is not a statement in any way of opposition to a skate park project. It is simply to cClarify the process to get direction from you as council so that we avoid creating any undue challenges down the road that could jeopardize the project as efficient.”

— Joan Phillipe, Interim City Manager (YubaNet)

“I think it's responsible to pause, take a fresh look and do this the right way with the process. I would like staff to come back to the top three viable skate park locations in town with the clear pros and cons analysis for each, including site constraints, neighborhood compatibility, access and parking, and operational impacts, as well as a high level CEQA profile so we can understand the schedule that's needed and the risk that we're undertaking.”

— Doug Fleming, Nevada City Councilmember (YubaNet)

“No money, no property, no project, it's pretty basic stuff. Because I think that Doug and I absolutely agree on we're not giving that money back. And I think we're all in agreement on that. But I'm not sure what that looks like. If it means giving it to the school because we don't have enough time to do a skate park, I'm gonna do that because it's about keeping the money in our community.”

— Gary Petersen, Nevada City Councilmember (YubaNet)

“I do want to say to folks in the room, particularly young folks, this isn't about whether or not we should or should not have a skate park. I think on November 23rd or November 8th, 2023, we all agreed that would be a tremendous amenity to Nevada City. We want to make that happen for folks.”

— Daniela Fernández, Nevada City Councilmember (YubaNet)

“I want a skate park here. I'm not married to the idea of being at that property. I'm married to the idea of it being the best possible place for it to be. I do question some of the some of the city owned lots do seem on the small side for a project like this. That needs to be acknowledged. I think Pioneer Park would be an imperfect solution. I think we would lose too many amenities to make room for a skate park there. I look forward to seeing what staff come back with as far as recommended spots. Maybe that will be the Bodhi Hive. Maybe it will be something else.”

— Lou Cecci, Nevada City Councilmember (YubaNet)

What’s next

The Nevada City Council has directed staff to identify possible sites for the skatepark and the constraints attached to each site. They will also check in with the grant funder on possible extensions, then bring everything back to the council for further consideration.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of a thorough and transparent process when undertaking a major community project like a skatepark. The Nevada City Council's decision to pause and reevaluate the project aims to ensure the skatepark is built in the right location and with the necessary funding and resources, ultimately benefiting the local youth and the broader community.